Electric switch



Feb; 24. 1925,

E. E. YAXLEY ELECTRLC SWITCH Fiied Aug. 18, 1923 Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

. UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

ERNEST E. YAXLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CARTER RADIO COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS, AND ONE- HALF TO YAXLEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, O'F CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, A COR- rona'rio'n or ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application inea `august 18,'1923. serial Naeawa T all whom t may concern.' v

`Be it known that I, EnNnsr li). 'YAx1.1-:r,.-a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches,

of which the :following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to electric. switches and hasseveral objects and advantages in view.

In accordance with one feature of the in vention the ranfre of movement of the switch arm is regulab e by means of an abutment whose position may be changed to dnerent parts of the path of movement of the switch arm for the urpose.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the switch arm and the contacts are so constructed and related that the switch arm does not snap or settle while passing from one contact to another, but only after having fully left one contact and when about reaching the position in which it fully engages a succedin contact. In carying out this feature of t e invention adjacent contacts are provided with ridges at their adjacent sides.

Ihe contacting end of the switch arm 1s wider than the spaces betweenthese ridges, where adjacent, so that-the switch arm will not snap until it has left both ridges, thereby Aindicating to the user when-the switch arm has been brought to a new functioning position.

The invention also has another feature the provision of means for ensuring ood electrical connection between a rod or s aft and a circuit continuing arm with respect to which the shaft is rotatable and which engages an end of said shaft. In carr ing out this featiireof the invention a flexible connection is carried by and electrically connected at one end with said arm and is mechanicall and electrically assembled with 4l saidsha at its other en The invention will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front View of a switches it is preferably constructed; Fig.

2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. B is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating parts of the structure in separated relation; Fig. 5 is a' perspective view illustrating the assembly of the shaft and the flexible connection carried by the arin that engages an end of the shaft: and Fig. o is a sectional view on line 6-G of Fig. 5.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures. l

The switch mounting 1 may be inthe form of a board or plate of insulation having an aperture therethrough which receives a bearing 2 formed with a shoulder or flange 3 upon one end and threaded at its other. A sleeve 4 is screwed upon the threaded portion ol' the bearing, and has a shoulder or flange 5 at its outer' end. The mounting board 1 is clamped bci'ween the flanges l and 5. A disc 6 of metal or other suitalnc material is clamped between the flange l and the board 1. A disc 7 of insulation is assembled with the disc 6 by screws 8, 8.

An arcuate row of contacts 9 is concentric with the cylindrical bore ofthe bearing 2. A spring contact arm or wiper 10 is fixedly carried upon a rod or shaft 11 which is journaled in the bearing 2, the outer orV contacting end of this arm sweeping over the contacts. A knob 12 is fixed upon the shaft by means of a set screw 18. The contacts 9 may be complemental to a common contact terminal 14 which may be in the form of an angular arm assembled by means of screws 15 with the angular continuation 16 of the disc 6. The contact 14 presses upon one end of the rod or shaft 11 as this shaft and the contact arm 10 thereon are turned to bring this contact arm into engagement with a selected contact. As illustrated the contact 14 and shaft 11 include the switch in circuit. A flexible conductor 17 is employed to ensure the continuity of the circuit portion established by the arm 14 and shaft 11, this conductor being fixed mechanically and electrically assembled. Said conductor is preferably in the form of a light coiled formed upon the contacts and l' passing' through openings in the support 7 and l clinched upon the back thereof.

` The contacts 9 are provided-with ridges where these contacts are most adjacent, these ridges being in the arc of movement of the contacting end of the arm or wiper l10. v F01' convenience of manufacture theseridges are circular as indicated at 92. The contacting en'd of the spring armor wiper 10 has a.

-contacting portion 10 pressed therefrom that lmakes the'contactingportion of the arm broader than the spaces between the adjaf these ridges.

cent ridges. In this way 'the contact arm will not drop vfrom the plane of theadjacent' ridgesuntil it has cleared both of The user will know whether the switch arm is bridging two contacts or is in engagement with only one, as the noise or click arises only when. the latter is the.

case.v The width'of the contacting arm at its portion 10. is less than the diameter of the circles surrounded by the ridges 92 so that the contact arm may be held in fulll engagement with the selected contact.

The maximum range of travel-of the switch arm is coex'tensive with the row of contactsand is 'defined by the abutment 19 formed integrally fiom the saine piece of metal and heldinplace by the screw 8. The range of movement of the arm may be shortened to exclude some of the contacts. To this end I employ an adjustable abutmentQO, preferably of T shape. The

stem of the abutment is insertible through openings 2 through `which the ears Qare preferably passed, these openingslocated in different functioning positions of the switch arm -and which openings are preferably located between .the contacts. When -the abutment has been fully inserted within the selected opening, the partsfare assembled `so that the board 1 will engage the T head to lreep the abutment in place; with the fstem thereof Acrossing the plane of movement of the switch arm.

Changes may be ma'de without departure from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An electric switch structure includingv a row o f contacts; a switch 'arm that is movable with respect to the row of contacts along the same ;-and van abutment with which said arm is engageable to limit the range of movement ofthe arm with respect to the row of contacts, the switch structure 'and abutment beinlg formed to enable their assembly at each of-` a plurality of different operative positions of the switcharmwitlry the abutment in functioning position.

2. An electric switch structure including a row of contacts; ra switch arm that is movable with respect to the row .of`contacts along the saine; a mounting for said contacts formed with openings at different operative positions'of the switch arm; and

an abutment with which said'arm is engageable and rcceivable'in any of said -op'eiiings which are positioned to place the abutment in functioning position.

3. An' electric switch lstructure including a row' of contacts; a switch arm that is movable with respect to the row of contacts along the same; a mounting for saidA contacts having the contacts uponI one o f its sides and formed with openings at different operative positions of the switch arm; anda T shaped abutment whose head is upon'` the other side of said mounting and whose stein is receivable in either of saidopenings and is of a length to project into the path of relative movement of the arm and contacts.

t. An electric switch structure including arow of contacts; aswitch arm that is movable with respect to the row of contacts 'along-the same; a mountiiilg fo'r said contacts having the contacts upon one of its sides and formed with .openings 'atditferent -operative positions of the swiicharin; an j vabutment having a head and a stein, the stem being receivable in any of said openings in position to be engaged by said switch arm;

and a mounting for the switch structure of said mountinlg and the other of which is `receivable in either of said openings and is `of a length to projectinto the path of rela` tive movement of the arm and contacts.'

6. An electric Switch structure including a row of contacts; a switch arm that is movable with respect to the row of contactsalong the same; a mounting for said contacts havingthe 'contacts upon one of its sides and formed with openings at different operative positions of the switch arm; an abutment receivable in any of said openings and 'there engage-,able by the switch arm; and a mounting for theswitch structure positionedto engage the abutment and hold it in functioning position.

angularly related v branches, on'e of which is upon the other side In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe l my name this 1923.

ERNEST E. YAXLEY. I

15th day of August, A. I).7 

